🔗 Share this article

When Tony Popovic eventually gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a series of requirements. Most were clear and direct – ideal in light of the disruption surrounding his unexpected appointment, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” mindset to secure, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was a further message. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast sharper into focus with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something extraordinary, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team changed, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing fairly remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November friendlies against Venezuela, presently placed 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the last games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he started in the job thinking to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has grown. This is not only through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much apart from this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are additional ones to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those group can hold out hope that, come June next year, they could be on the plane. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to miss a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – persists to perform regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a end on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an chance. Why can’t there be an additional player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I keep saying it to the group: one day, Australia will go a long way in the World Cup. And why not this group? Why do we have to wait two or three World Cups, when I’m sitting back and cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”